Items Tagged ‘infrastructure’
Warehouses To Urban Farms
Synopsis:
While civilization continues to urbanize and move into the cities, there are still parts of the cities that have fallen into disuse. These areas include old industrial land with massive structures and lots of infrastructure. Although people may have moved away from these areas as places to live and work, they can still be active elements within our communities. Harwood discusses the potential of urban agriculture and how this movement can best utilize these old built spaces. Such scenarios provide win-wins all around – reuse of vacant land, easier food access for the urban area, indoor agriculture can minimize the need for pesticides, increase in a new work sector that can provide safe and healthy opportunities to area residents. This is a great opportunity for the shrinking as well as growing city.
Recycled House
Synopsis:
History
The building, built in the 1950s, has served as a residential home in Buenos Aires. It is a small lot within an upscale neighborhood.
(Re)Developer
The home was renovated and “recycled” by architects Gustavo Dieguez and Lucas Gilardi of a77 studio. The small firm has been actively working with discarded materials in architecture and conceptual works which they employed with this project.[1]
OutcomeWhile not a true adaptive reuse project in that the building retained its original use, the renovation found new uses for old infrastructure elements to be used throughout the home. This project is a great example of sustainability, from the reuse of the building and infrastructure materials to the small lot size and excellent use of light and ventilation.
The architects rescued and used about 50 meters of highway guard rails and close to 300 meters of discarded metal profiles as well as the doors and windows from the original home.[2] The end product is home that includes a spacious loft, bedrooms and a central courtyard, topped by a green rooftop patio and pool.[3]
The Bay Line
Publication Date:
November 27, 2009Written By:
Ronald RaelSource:
Rael San Fratello ArchitectsRead more...
Synopsis:
Architect and professor Ronald Rael looks at the potential of reusing the eastern section of the James “Sunny Jim” Rolph Bridge (the Bay Bridge) in San Francisco/Oakland. A new bridge is currently under construction, leaving the current use of the Bay Bridge with limited days. Rael advocates repurposing the bridge (and other abandoned bridges in the US) as “possible sites for sustainable urban housing and linear parks.” Going beyond the High Line in New York City, Rael’s vision incorporates a linear park, housing, cultural activities (theatres, retail, museums), sporting facilities (tennis courts, climbing walls, skate parks) and numerous wildlife (orchards, gardens, meadows).
The full project submission can be viewed here.